Medical Board of California · MD

50 hours. Every two years. Tied to your birth month.

A source-verified guide to California's CME requirements for physicians — hours, mandatory topics, audit rules, and exemptions.[2]

Updated April 2026Sourced from MBC~6 min read
Licensed as a DO instead? California has a separate osteopathic board. See California DO CME requirements →

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 21, 2026

Mandatory topics

For physicians, 50 hours is the total CME requirement. California also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 50-hour total.

Pain management & end-of-life care[1]
12 hrs
One-time
Satisfied by either (a) 12 CME hours in pain management + end-of-life care, divisible between the two topics, completed by the 2nd renewal after licensure or within four years of initial license (whichever comes first); OR (b) a one-time mandatory 12-hour CME course on treatment and management of opiate-dependent patients that includes 8 hours of training in buprenorphine or other similar medicinal treatment for OUD, completed by the next renewal. Pathologists and radiologists are exempt (see exemptions). The 12 hours count toward the 50-hour biennial total in the cycle completed.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“All physicians and surgeons shall complete a mandatory continuing education course in the subjects of pain management and the treatment of terminally ill and dying patients. For the purposes of this section, this course shall be a one-time requirement of 12 credit hours within the required minimum established by regulation … All physicians and surgeons licensed on and after January 1, 2002, shall complete this requirement within four years of their initial license or by their second renewal date, whichever occurs first. … For physicians and surgeons licensed on or after January 1, 2019, the course described in paragraph (1) shall also include the subject of the risks of addiction associated with the use of Schedule II drugs. … This section shall not apply to physicians and surgeons practicing in pathology or radiology specialty areas.”
Bus. & Prof. Code § 2190.5See source [1] in Primary Sources
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Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalGeriatric medicine[2]
10 hrs
Biennial

General internists and family physicians whose patient population is 25% or more aged 65 or older

View sourceVerbatim from source
“general internists and family physicians who have a patient population of which over 25 percent are 65 years of age or older, are required to complete at least 20 percent of their mandatory CME in the field of geriatric medicine, the care of older patients, or the special care needs of patients with dementia.”
MBC CME pageSee source [2] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, California Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
AMA PRA Category 1
Programs accredited by the California Medical Association (CMA), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) that qualify for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s).SourceMBC CME page[2]
AAFP Prescribed
Programs which qualify for prescribed credit from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).SourceMBC CME page[2]
Board-approved credit
Other programs offered by other organizations and institutions acceptable to the Division.SourceMBC CME page[2]
Documentation & audit

Physicians must retain records for a minimum of four years of all continuing education programs attended, including title, dates of attendance, length, sponsoring organization, and accrediting organization.[7]

The renewal cycle ends on the last day of the physician's birth month every two years, not on a calendar boundary.[2]

Waivers & exemptions

Pathologists and radiologists are exempt from the one-time 12-hour pain management and end-of-life care requirement.[1]

CME waivers may be granted for documented health, military service, or undue hardship.[2] Waivers are not available to physicians who have previously been audited. If a waiver is denied, the physician may renew once but must complete 100 CME hours during the next renewal period.

ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship participation accrues 6 hours of CME per month.[2]

Teaching or presenting a course or program that meets CME standards may satisfy up to one-third of required hours.[2]

A physician who takes and passes a certifying or recertifying examination administered by a recognized specialty board is granted 100 hours of CME credit for four consecutive years.[2]

FAQ
How many CME hours do California physicians need?
California physicians licensed by the Medical Board of California must complete 50 hours of approved continuing medical education every two years.[2][3] Doctors of osteopathic medicine licensed by the separate Osteopathic Medical Board of California must also complete 50 hours every two years, but at least 20 of those hours must be AOA Category 1A or 1B, and every renewal cycle must include at least 1 hour on the risks of addiction associated with Schedule II drugs.[4] The MD total is tied to the physician's biennial renewal cycle, which ends on the last day of the physician's birth month.[2]
Are there mandatory CME topics in California?
Yes, but most of them are one-time requirements rather than recurring ones. Newly licensed California physicians must complete 12 hours covering pain management, the appropriate care of terminally ill patients, and the risks of addiction from controlled substances.[1] Pathologists and radiologists are exempt.[1] An alternative satisfies the same requirement: a 12-hour course on treating opioid-dependent patients that includes at least 8 hours of buprenorphine or similar medication-assisted treatment.[5] General internists and family physicians whose patient panel is at least 25 percent age 65 or older must also dedicate 20 percent of their CME to geriatric care.[2]
Where can I check my California medical license renewal date?
The Medical Board of California uses the Department of Consumer Affairs license search at search.dca.ca.gov.[6] Search by name or license number to confirm your status, your expiration date, and any outstanding requirements. Renewal notices are sent to the physician's address of record about 60 days before the license expires, but it is the licensee's responsibility to track the date. California does not extend the deadline for missed notices.
Do residency hours count toward California CME?
Yes. Physicians enrolled in ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship programs accrue six hours of CME credit per month.[2] This is particularly useful for residents who hold an active California license while still in training, and it can fully cover the 50-hour requirement during a typical training year.
What credit types does California accept?
The Medical Board of California accepts CME from organizations accredited by the ACCME (typically delivered as AMA PRA Category 1 Credit), the California Medical Association, the AMA directly, or the American Academy of Family Physicians.[2] The MBC CME page also allows other programs offered by other organizations and institutions acceptable to the Division.[2] DOs licensed by the separate Osteopathic Medical Board of California must obtain at least 20 of their 50 biennial hours from AOA Category 1A or 1B programs; the remaining 30 hours may be AOA or AMA-accredited.[4]
Do California MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
Yes. California DOs are licensed by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California (OMBC) — a separate agency from the Medical Board of California.[4] Both require 50 hours of CME every two years, but OMBC requires at least 20 of those hours to be AOA Category 1A or 1B, with the remaining 30 hours from AOA or AMA-accredited providers.[4] A recurring DO-specific mandate requires at least 1 hour per cycle on the risks of addiction associated with Schedule II drugs;[4] MDs satisfy the addiction-risk subject through the one-time 12-hour pain management course.[1] The geriatric-care 20%-of-CME rule for internists and family physicians with ≥25% patients 65+ applies under the Medical Board but does not appear in OMBC's regime.[2] See [DO board requirements](/cme-requirements/california/osteopathic) for the complete osteopathic requirements.

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Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. Bus. & Prof. Code § 2190.5 — Pain Management / Terminally Ill CME
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “All physicians and surgeons shall complete a mandatory continuing education course in the subjects of pain management and the treatment of terminally ill and dying patients. For the purposes of this section, this course shall be a one-time requirement of 12 credit hours within the required minimum established by regulation … All physicians and surgeons licensed on and after January 1, 2002, shall complete this requirement within four years of their initial license or by their second renewal date, whichever occurs first. … This section shall not apply to physicians and surgeons practicing in pathology or radiology specialty areas.”Bus. & Prof. Code § 2190.5 · Effective 2019-01-01
    “All physicians and surgeons shall complete a mandatory continuing education course in the subjects of pain management and the treatment of terminally ill and dying patients. For the purposes of this section, this course shall be a one-time requirement of 12 credit hours within the required minimum established by regulation … All physicians and surgeons licensed on and after January 1, 2002, shall complete this requirement within four years of their initial license or by their second renewal date, whichever occurs first. … For physicians and surgeons licensed on or after January 1, 2019, the course described in paragraph (1) shall also include the subject of the risks of addiction associated with the use of Schedule II drugs. … This section shall not apply to physicians and surgeons practicing in pathology or radiology specialty areas.”Bus. & Prof. Code § 2190.5 · Effective 2019-01-01
  2. Continuing Medical Education — Medical Board of California
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “To ensure the continuing competence as a licensed physician, you must complete a minimum of 50 hours of approved Continuing Medical Education (CME) hours during each biennial renewal cycle. CME courses must have been completed during each two-year period immediately preceding the expiration of your license.”MBC CME page
    “general internists and family physicians who have a patient population of which over 25 percent are 65 years of age or older, are required to complete at least 20 percent of their mandatory CME in the field of geriatric medicine, the care of older patients, or the special care needs of patients with dementia.”MBC CME page
  3. 16 CCR § 1336 — Continuing Education Required
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Each physician is required to complete not less than 50 hours of approved continuing education during each two-year period immediately preceding the expiration of his or her license.”16 CCR § 1336(a)
  4. Bus. & Prof. Code § 2454.5 — Osteopathic CME
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “The board shall require each licensed osteopathic physician and surgeon to complete a minimum of 50 hours of American Osteopathic Association continuing education hours during each two-year cycle, of which 20 hours shall be completed in American Osteopathic Association Category 1 continuing education hours and the remaining 30 hours shall be either American Osteopathic Association or American Medical Association accredited as a condition for renewal of an active license. Licensed osteopathic physicians and surgeons shall complete a course on the risks of addiction associated with the use of Schedule II drugs.”Bus. & Prof. Code § 2454.5
  5. Bus. & Prof. Code § 2190.6 — Opiate-Dependent Patient Course Alternative
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “As an alternative to BPC section 2190.5 existing mandatory course work, a physician and surgeon may complete a one-time continuing education course work of 12 credit hours in the subject of treatment and management of opiate-dependent patients, including eight hours of training in buprenorphine treatment, or other similar medical treatment, or opioid use disorders.”Bus. & Prof. Code § 2190.6
  6. DCA License Search — California Department of Consumer Affairs
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
  7. 16 CCR § 1338 — Continuing Education Audit and Records
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “The Board requires that each physician retain records for a minimum of four years of all continuing education programs attended which indicate the title of the course or program attended, dates of attendance, the length of the course or program, the sponsoring organization and the accrediting organization, if any, which may be needed in the event of an audit by the Board.”16 CCR § 1338(e)

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Medical Board of California, or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state's medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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